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Pictures of the two great danes on the banner used with the kind permission of Louise Peterson

Flags used with the kind permission of 3DFlagsplus.com

The F.C.I. standard for the great dane

Note : this is the F.C.I. standard n°235 : great dane (deutsche dogge).

Origin

Germany, the Deutscher Doggen Club 1888 e.V..

Date of publication of the original valid standard

March 13, 2001.

Utilization

Companion, watch - and guard dog.

Classification F.C.I.

Group 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid breeds - Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs and other breeds.

Section 2.1 Molossoid breeds, Mastiff type.

Without working trial.

Brief historical summary

As forerunners of the present day Great Dane, one must look at the old "Bullenbeisser" (Bulldog) as well as the « Hatz-and Saurüden » (Hunting and wild boar hounds), which were midway between the strong Mastiff of English type and the fast, handy Greyhound. The term Dogge was at first understood to mean a large, powerful dog, not of any particular breed. Later, particular names such as Ulmer Dogge , English Dogge, Great Dane, Hatzrüde (Hunting Dog), Saupacker (boarfinder) and Grosse Dogge (Great Dogge), classified these dogs according to colour and size.

In the year 1878 a Committee of seven was formed in Berlin, consisting of active breeders and judges with Dr. Bodinus in the chair, which made the decision to classify all the forenamed varieties as « Deutsche Doggen » (Great Danes). Thus the foundation was laid for the breeding of a separate German breed.

In the year 1880, on the occasion of a show in Berlin, the first standard for the Deutsche Dogge was laid down. This standard has been taken care of since the year 1888 by the "Deutsche Doggen Club 1888 e.V." (German Doggen Club, registered Club 1888) and frequently been revised over the years. The present Standard meets the requirements of the F.C.I.

General appearance

The Great Dane in his noble appearance combines a large, powerful well constructed body with pride, strength and elegance. By substance together with nobility, harmonious appearance, well proportioned outlines, as well as a specially expressive head, the Great Dane strikes the onlooker as a noble statue. He is the Appolo amongst all breeds.

Important proportions

Almost square in build, this applies particularly to males.

The length of the body (point of sternum to point of buttocks) should not exceed height at withers in dogs by more than 5%, in bitches by more than 10%.

Behaviour/Temperament

Friendly, loving and devoted to his owners, specially to the children. Reserved towards strangers. Required is a confident, fearless, easily tractable, docile companion and family dog with high resistance to provocation and without aggression.

Terms used in the great dane standard

1. Nose	12. Back and Loin	23. Forearm
2. Nasal-bridge	13. Croup	24. Carpal joint
3. Lips	14. Pelvis	25. Pastern
4. Stop	15. Set of the tail	26. Toes
5. Cheeks	16. Tail	27. Penis
6. Skull	17. Forechest	28. Upper thigh
7. Throat	18. Ribcage	29. Patella
8. Ears	19. Breastbone	30. Lower thigh
9. Neck	20. Shoulder blade	31. Point of the hock
10. Nape	21. Upper arm	32. Hock
11. Withers	22. Elbow	33. Rear Pastern

Head

Cranial region

Skull : In harmony with the general appearance. Long, narrow, distinct, full of expression. Finely chiselled, specially under the eyes. Superciliary ridges well developed but not protruding. The distance from tip of nose to stop and from stop to the lightly defined occipital bone should be as equal as possible. The upper lines of muzzle and skull should run parallel. The head must appear narrow seen from the front with bridge of nose as broad as possible. Cheek muscles only slightly defined and in no way protruding.

Stop : Clearly defined.

Facial region

Nose : Well developeded, rather broad than round with large nostrils. Must be black with the exception of harlequins (white with black patches). In these a black nose is desired but a butterfly nose (black with pink patches) or flesh coloured nose is tolerated. In blue dogs the colour of the nose is anthracite (diluted black).

Muzzle : Deep and as rectangular as possible. Well defined corners of lips. Dark pigmented lips. In harlequins not totally pigmented or flesh coloured lips are tolerated.

Jaws/Teeth : Well developed broad jaws. Strong sound and complete scissor bite (42 teeth according to the dentition formula).

Eyes : Of medium size with lively friendly intelligent expression. As dark as possible, almond shaped with close fitting lids. In blue dogs slightly lighter eyes are tolerated. In harlequins light eyes or two differently coloured eyes are to be tolerated.

Ears : Naturally pendant, set on high, of medium size, front edges lying close to cheeks.

Neck

Long, clean, muscular. Well formed set on, tapering slightly towards the head, with arched neckline. Carried upright but inclined slightly forward.

Body

Withers : The highest point of the strong body. It is formed by the points of the shoulder blades which extend beyond the spinal processes.

Back : Short and firm, in almost straight line falling away imperceptibly to the rear.

Loins : Slightly arched, broad, strongly muscled.

Croup : Broad, well muscled. Sloping slightly from hipbone to tail set, imperceptibly merging into the tailset.

Chest : Reaching to the elbows. Well sprung ribs, reaching far back. Chest of good width with marked forechest.

Underline and belly : Belly well tucked up towards rear, forming a nicely curved line with the underside of the brisket.

Tail

Reaching to the hocks. Set on high and broad, tapering evenly towards tip. In repose hanging down with natural curve. When dog is alert or moving, carried slightly sabre-like but not markedly above the backline. Bristle hair on tail undesirable.

Limbs

Forequarters

Shoulders : Strongly muscled. The long, slanting shoulder blade forms an angle of 100 to 110 degrees with the upper arm.

Upper arm : Strong and muscular, close fitting, should be slightly longer than the shoulder blade.

Elbows : Turned neither in nor out.

Forearm : Strong, muscular. Seen from front and side, completely straight.

Carpus : Strong, firm, only slightly standing out from the structure of the forearm.

Pastern : Strong, straight when seen from the front, seen from the side, barely slanting forwards.

Front feet : Rounded, well arched, well-knit toes (cat feet). Nails short, strong and as dark as possible.

Hindquarters

The whole skeleton is covered by strong muscles which make the croup, hips and upper thighs appear broad and rounded. The strong well angulated hind legs, seen from behind, are set parallel to the front legs.

Upper thigh : Long, broad, very muscular.

Stifles : Strong, positioned almost vertically under the hip joint.

Lower thigh : Long, of approximately the same length as the upper thigh. Well muscled.

Hocks : Strong, firm, turning neither in nor out.

Metatarsus : Short, strong, standing almost vertical to the ground.

Hind feet : Rounded, well arched, well-knit (cat feet). Nails short, strong and as dark as possible.

Gait/Movement

Harmonious, lithe, ground covering, slightly springy. Legs must be parallel in movement coming and going.

Skin

Tight fitting. In solid colours, well pigmented. In harlequins, the distribution of pigment mainly corresponds to the markings.

Coat

Hair

Very short, dense, smooth and close lying, glossy.

Colour

The Great Dane is bred in three separate colour varieties: Fawn and brindle, harlequin and black, and blue.

• Fawn : Light gold fawn to deep gold fawn. Black mask desired. Small white marks on chest and toes undesirable.
• Brindle : Basic colours, light to deep gold fawn with black stripes as regular and clearly defined as possible, running with the direction of the ribs. Black mask desired. Small white markings on chest and toes are undesirable.
• Harlequin (white with black splashed patches) : Basic colour pure white, preferably with no ticking. Pure black patches well distributed all over the body, having the appearance of being torn. Grey or brownish patches undesirable.
• Black : Jet black, white markings permitted. Included here are « Manteltiger » in which the black covers the body like a coat ("mantel") or blanket and muzzle, throat, chest, belly, legs and tip of tail may be white. Also dogs with basic white colour and large black patches so called "Plattenhunde".
• Blue : Pure steel blue, white markings on chest and feet permitted.

Height

Height at withers : Dogs at least 80 cm, bitches at least 72 cm.

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

• General appearance : Lack of male or female characteristics, lack of balance, too light, too coarse in built.
• Temperament : Lacking self-confidence, nervous, easily provoked.
• Head : Lines of head not parallel, apple head, wedge shaped head, too little stop; too prominent cheek muscles.
• Muzzle : Pointed, lacking flews, lips too pendulous. Bridge of nose concave (dish shaped), convex (roman nose), falling away in front part (eagle nose).
• Jaws/Teeth : Any deviation from a complete set of teeth (only the missing of both PM1 in the lower jaw may be tolerated). Irregular position of individual incisors as long as the bite remains otherwise correct), teeth too small.
• Eyes : Slack lids, haw too red. Light, piercing, amber coloured eyes. Wall eyes or differently coloured eyes in all solid coat colours. Eyes too wide apart or slit eyes. Eyes protruding or too deeply set.
• Ears : Set on too high or too low. Standing off from the sides of the head or flat lying.
• Neck : Short thick neck, ewe neck, throatiness or excess of dewlap.
• Back : Sway back, roach back. Too long in back. Topline rising towards rear.
• Croup : Falling away steeply or completely flat.
• Tail : Too thick, too long or too short, set on too low or too highly carried above the back line. Hook tail or curled tail as well as tail carried sideways. Tail which is damaged, thickened at the tip or has been docked.
• Ribcage : Flat or barrel-shaped ribs. Lack of width or depth of chest. Too strongly protruding breastbone.
• Lower line : Belly line not sufficiently tucked up. Teats not sufficiently retracted.
• Forelegs : Insufficient angulation. Light bone, weak muscles. Stance not vertical.
• Shoulders : Loose or loaded. Upright shoulder blade.
• Elbows : Loose, turning in or out.
• Forearm : Bent, enlarged above pastern.
• Pastern : Enlarged, markedly weak or knuckling over.
• Metacarpus : Too sloping or too upright.
• Hindquarters : Too much or too little angulation. Cow hocked, close together or open hocked when standing.
• Hocks : Exaggerated large or unstable.
• Feet : Flat, splayed, long. Dewclaws.
• Gait/Movement : Covering too little ground, lack of freedom in action. Frequent or constant pacing. Lack of co-ordination between front and hind movement.
• Coat : Double coat (coarse, short coat), dull coat.
• Colour :
  • In fawn : Grey fawn, blue fawn, isabella (cream) or sooty fawn colour.
  • In brindles : Basic colour silver blue or isabella. Washed-out streaks.
  • In harlequins : Blue-grey ticked basic colour. Large fawn-grey or blue-grey parts in the patches.
  • In blacks : Fawn, brown or blue-black colour.
  • In blues : Fawn or black-blue colour.

Serious faults

• Temperament : Shyness.
• Jaws/Teeth : Pincer bite.
• Eyes : Ectropion, entropion.
• Tail : Kinky tail.

Eliminating faults

• Temperament : Aggressiveness, fear-biting.
• Nose : Liver coloured; split nose.
• Jaws/Teeth : Overshot, undershot, wry mouth.
• Colour :
  • Fawn or brindle : Dogs with white blaze, white collar, white feet or socks and white tip of tail.
  • Harlequin dogs : White without any black (albinos), deaf. So called Porcelain tigers (dogs that show predominantly blue, grey, fawn or brindle patches), so called "Grautiger" (dogs that have a basic grey colour with black patches).
• Height : Below minimum height.

N.B.

Male animals should have two apparently normally developed testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

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